The Miller Report 08072025

 
   Greetings and Welcome! 
Welcome, inquisitive souls, to Miller's Mysteries Blog, where the goats next door are auditioning for the role of “Friendly Neighborhood Critic” in my sunny backyard! 


The cats, sitting by the window with judgment, love the attention as much as the goats do. I’m all set to enjoy some fun-filled activities at the Senior Center and catch the latest flick at AMC—the goats might even give a standing ovation! Oh, and if you see me headed to the mini-golf with side-eyeing goats in tow, just smile and wave! Let the sunny adventures begin!


  • Across my Desk!!
Vegans hold a funeral at Trader Joe's for the chickens in the fridge
Vegans: "Here today to mourn the untimely deaths of the chickens whose bodies are here behind us. Chickens who were slaughtered at Purdue Petaluma Poultry Slaughterhouse. We are here to honor their lives because no one else is."

Ring your doorbell on your way to bed at night...
This will clear the dogs off the bed long enough to reclaim your spot...😝  Doesn't work with cats, though.
Roxie Hove writes:  
We had a doorbell that would ring on its own at night. It would do the ding. I’d get up to check and nobody was there. After I got back in bed it would do the dong. We disconnected it.


My son-in-law fell into an upholstery machine.
He's fully recovered.

10+10 = 11+11

I Convinced Grok the Biblical Flood Really Happened 
using mathematical probability, logic, and observational science.

The Havasu Balloon Festival (Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA) - A colorful annual event showcasing hot air balloon launches, competitions, and community festivities. 8 - 10 August 2025

Space news:  
A new comet, 3I/ATLAS, has been discovered, and while it is not a threat to Earth, it is an interesting object of study for scientists. 

NASA's Webb Finds Asteroid 2024 YR4

Keep your eyes on the sky the nights of August 12 and 13—a meteor shower with over 1,000 meteors will light up the darkness.


  • The Reader
  As Saturday night rolled in, the soft hues of twilight surrounded Amanda as she settled into her cozy sofa with a thick throw blanket. The aroma of her vanilla candle filled the air while she held a mug of hot chocolate, marshmallows bobbing on the surface. A plate of assorted snacks, filled with pretzel bites and dark chocolate squares, was within arm’s reach. With her notepad open, she anticipated diving into the imaginative realms of Mindmyst Tales Blog, her creative sanctuary. The warmth of her surroundings enveloped her like a hug, urging her to relax and embrace the moment. Each click on the blog uncovered a new tale, and she couldn’t help but jot down quotes and thoughts that resonated deeply with her. It was the perfect way to unwind, surrounded by words that sparked joy and creativity.
  
  
 • Game of the Week
 
Camping in Thomaston

1    Tent Area Calculation
    A rectangular tent has a length that is 3 feet longer than its width. If the area of the tent is 60 square feet, what are the dimensions of the tent? Let the width be ( x ) feet. Write and solve the equation for the dimensions.

2    Campsite Cost
    A campsite charges a flat fee of $25 per night plus an additional $10 per person for tent camping. If a family of four plans to stay at the campsite for 3 nights, how much will their total cost be? Write an equation to represent the total cost and calculate the final amount.

3    Tents and Sleeping Bags
    A group of friends is going camping and needs to rent tents and sleeping bags. The rental place charges $15 for each tent and $5 for each sleeping bag. If they rent a total of 8 items (tents and sleeping bags) for a total cost of $90, how many tents and how many sleeping bags did they rent? Set up a system of equations to solve for the number of tents (let ( t )) and sleeping bags (let ( s )).

4    Campsite Size
    A campsite has a total area of 2000 square feet, which will be divided into two sections: one for tents and the other for a cooking area. The tent section should be twice the size of the cooking area. Let ( x ) represent the area of the cooking area in square feet. Write an equation to represent the areas and solve for the sizes of each section.

5    Building a Fire Pit
    A family wants to build a circular fire pit in their campsite. The radius of the fire pit should be 2 feet less than twice the width of a rectangular camping area that is 5 feet wide. If the area of the fire pit (using the formula ( A = \pi r^2 )) should be at least 50 square feet, find the minimum width of the camping area. Write and solve the appropriate inequalities.


 • Now, This Week's Exciting Story

Midsummer Swim

As they arrived at the lake, the shimmering water beckoned them like a cool oasis on a warm summer day. Lucy spread out the beach towels on the soft grass, creating a cozy spot for their picnic. The aroma of cut watermelon and juicy strawberries wafted through the air, tantalizing their taste buds.

“Who’s ready for the best summer salad ever?” Lucy called out, her sisters squealing with delight as they settled onto their towels. They gathered around as Lucy unveiled the colorful mix, each slice glistening in the sunlight like little jewels.

“Just think! This is the perfect fuel for our big swim!” her cousin Mia said, grabbing a piece and popping it in her mouth. The mix of sweet watermelon and tart strawberries burst with flavor, refreshing them after the adventure of setting up.

Fueled by the delicious fruit salad, they bounded toward the water, letting their toes skim the surface before plunging in. Laughter filled the air as they splashed and raced one another, the lake’s cool embrace providing a welcome respite from the heat.

After moments of frolicking in the water, they settled back on the shore, drying off and relishing the fleeting warmth of the sun. Lucy smiled, watching her cousins giggle and play, each moment etched in her memory—the joy of summer felt like magic.

“Let’s make a sandcastle!” Lucy suggested enthusiastically, and they cheered in agreement.

With buckets in hand, they gathered sand and began constructing a towering fortress, complete with a moat and a flag made of a brightly colored napkin. As they worked together, the creative energy buzzed between them, laughter punctuating their conversations about imaginary kingdoms and daring knights.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple, Lucy and her cousins collapsed on the grass, worn out from an exciting day. Together, they watched the sun dip below the horizon, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness and togetherness.

“Best. Day. Ever,” Lucy declared, and the others nodded in agreement. 


The air turned a bit cooler as the last blush of sunset faded, wrapping the campsite in a soft twilight. The six lanterns glowed brightly, their colors casting cheerful reflections on the girls' faces. They settled into their three camp chairs, each claiming a prime position around their cozy setup.

Lucy took a sip from her soda can and grinned. “So, how’s this for the perfect summer evening? Lanterns, snacks, and no boys drooling over our sandwiches!”

Emma giggled, taking a bite of her ham and cheese. “Do you remember last summer when Jake tried to impress us by showing off his ‘fishing skills’ but ended up catching a boot instead?”

“Oh! And he acted like it was the biggest fish ever,” Mia laughed, rolling her eyes. “He’s like, ‘This is my catch of the day!’ Meanwhile, we’re just trying to figure out if we should congratulate him or call for help.”

Lucy chuckled and held her soda can high. “To Jake and his boot—may he one day catch something edible!”

They all toasted with their drinks, laughter echoing through the campsite.

“Speaking of boys,” Emma began, her eyes twinkling with mischief, “what do you think they would say if they showed up now? ‘Uh, hey, ladies! Nice lanterns. Need help with your—’” she faltered, mimicking their best clueless boy voice, “—malarkey? I mean, I can totally… uh, carry stuff!”

“‘Yeah, we brought our own lanterns,’” Mia continued, pretending to swagger. “‘Super cool ones that definitely light up and don’t look like colorful jellybeans!’”

“Oh, I can hear Jason now!” Lucy chimed in, feigning a deep voice. “‘Hey, is that… a… not-too-girly gathering? Because I’d love to be part of it!’”

“Right! Like he’s dying to discover the secrets of our camp chair arrangement,” Emma replied with laughter. “News flash, bud: we’re not running a master class on chair seating etiquette!”

“And while we’re at it,” Lucy added, picking at her cool sandwich, “how clueless are they about snacks? They think pizza rolls are a gourmet feature. I’d love to see them try our famous cooler sandwiches—they wouldn’t know what hit them!”

Mia leaned forward, a playful sparkle in her eye. “Imagine a boy opening the cooler and seeing our sandwiches stacked inside with careful precision, like this gourmet exhibition. ‘What—are these artisanal? Did you get the recipe from Paris?’”

Lucy launched into a hilarious imitation. “Security detail! Calling in the National Guard! We have sensational sandwiches on the loose! This isn’t fair; they’re just too organized. We should just turn this into a ‘how to eat like queens’ seminar!.”

“Oh, and don’t forget the part where they pretend to take notes!” Emma added, mimicking writing furiously. “‘Step one: Choose the fanciest flavor combination! Step two: Show off your skills to impress the girls at the lake!’”

“Honestly, they probably wouldn’t even know how to unpack a simple cooler,” Mia added, shaking her head in mock disbelief. “The horror! All summer, we’ve been slaving away at these sandwiches while they just waltz in trying to relive their one moment of culinary success!”

The banter flowed freely as they munched on their sandwiches, feeling the comfort of camaraderie wrapping around them as securely as the warm blankets they brought along.

“Alright, let’s make a plan,” Lucy said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “What if they show up? We could pretend we’re having an intense philosophical debate about how to arrange the best sandwich.”

“Totally! Like, ‘Do you think peanut butter and jelly really has environmental implications compared to ham and cheese?’” Emma added, putting her hand on her chin theatrically.

“Exactly! And we’ll nod very seriously as they contemplate it,” Lucy agreed, chuckling. “Maybe we can roast them on sandwich science and watch the confused look cross their faces!”

“Sandwich science: the study of what happens when boys try to figure out culinary wonders beyond pizza!” Mia laughed.

As the stars twinkled above them, the girls basked in the joy of the night, the laughter intertwining with the gentle sounds of nature. The sweet warmth of friendship filled the air, more potent and delightful than any lantern’s glow. They knew this night would become one of those cherished memories that would last long after the summer was over, no boys necessary. 



===========SHADOW
The Vanishing Heat
    In the midst of a sweltering summer, the old geothermal wells in Willimantic began to bubble ominously, sending plumes of steam into the air. Days later, witnesses reported glowing orbs drifting above the wells, pulsating in tandem with the seething ground beneath them. A violent tremor rocked the area, followed by an unnatural silence, as if nature itself held its breath. When families returned, they found their homes untouched but empty, the only lingering trace being the unsettling thrum of energy still pulsating from the wells.
    
SHADOW by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z36PS3
Claim your book today and discover firsthand accounts that illuminate the path to better understanding!



============SPACE TALES 2
Central to many stories in the anthology is the theme of choice and its rippling effects across timelines and realities. As characters grapple with pivotal decisions, readers are invited to reflect on their own lives and the weight of their choices. The anthology nudges us to consider the multiple paths our lives could take and the consequences of our actions—both seen and unseen—in the grand narrative of existence.

SPACE TALES 2 by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKHGKSL3
Claim your book today and discover stories of great characters and their shiny spaceships. 🛸




============

Visit and enjoy my Author Page 🍂📜 ♣️❤️♠️♦️
https://warlockpublishing.com/joseph-miller-author/joseph-miller
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============ sponsor

KelDel Creations
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090364412851

Step into Kelly's little corner of wonder at the craft fair, where every item has a unique story waiting to be told! Her booth is brimming with handmade goods that celebrate creativity, craftsmanship, and the joy of giving. From beautifully crafted jewelry to charming home decor, you’ll find something perfect for yourself or a loved one. Each piece is made with love and attention to detail, reflecting Kelly's commitment to quality. Be sure to engage with her—she loves to share the inspiration behind her work and the creative process that drives her artistry. This is a fabulous opportunity to support local artisans and appreciate the magic of handmade creations. Come and discover the perfect treasure that captures your heart!

Southington Farmer's Market
We'll be there again on Aug 29th.  We look forward to seeing you again!!  Don't forget to ask for one of Joe Miller's great books.  It will be autographed.

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Thank you for stopping by! 

    Thank you for visiting us during these lovely  August days! As the summer sun gives way to cooler evenings, we truly enjoyed sharing hot black coffee by the firepit with you. Your laughter warmed our hearts and made the experience even more special. We look forward to seeing you again as the beautiful fall colors arrive!


Please do write a comment.  You could, if you dare, ask me a question, or send a joke. If I like it, I'll publish it right here in Miller's Mysteries Blog!
[send to mindmyst@yahoo.com]

Until next Thursday,    
Happy August!!! 

Joe Miller 🍻🍻 🦈️⛳️⛵🇺🇸️🌻

Quick question
If time travel were possible, would you go back to change something or just to see how hairstyles evolved? 
Personally, I’d just go back to the ‘80s and rock an epic mullet, just for the fun of walking into a hair salon today! Let’s just say I'd leave them thoroughly confused!
 

Weather Forecast: Prepare for torrential rain! Experts have concluded it's not just Mother Nature; it’s her angry mother-in-law throwing a fit about a forgotten dinner invitation. Meanwhile, in space news, scientists believe they have located a gravitational anomaly that may or may not lead to “Upside Down Land”—a place where everyone owes their ex-spouses money. Strap on your umbrellas and your wallets!


  Joe Miller